Quote: > Since TPTB (the powers that be) can't seem to figure out the problem (or solution) it seems to be up to us. I could mutter about 'deriliction of duty' but whats the point Well, you did mutter about dereliction, so I feel compelled to respond. The folks at Penn State are working hard on the multitude of problems, but as they say: there is no silver bullet. Certainly not ascorbic acid, though no one doubts that nutrition is a very important part of health. But what have they been doing with all the money? A lot, I'd say. But if they haven't gotten to the bottom of it, it's not for lack of effort. The Pollinator Crisis • Multiple factors: – Pathogens – Parasites – Pesticides – Management practices – Landscape ecology (habitat fragmentation, climate change, monocropping) • No “silver bullet” solution Penn State’s Role • Multiple research, teaching and extension faculty focused on pollinators • PA beekeeper David Hackenberg contacted Penn State and PA Dept of Ag in winter 2006/7; first documented case of CCD • First outcome was a 2007 Science paper describing association of IAPV with CCD (Cox-Foster, vanEngelsdorp) • Followed by collaborative effort to study phenomenon and inform public, growers, beekeepers, and policy makers • In Fall 2009, formally established the Center for Pollinator Research Center for Pollinator Research • Mission: developing and implementing integrative, multidisciplinary approaches to improving pollinator health, conservation, and management for ecosystems services through research, education, outreach and policy. • Funding: 2008-2010, > $8 million in funds – Government: NSF, NSF-BREAD, USDA-AFRI, USDA-ARS, USDAAPHIS, NE-SARE, US Agency for International Development, US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture – Non-profit groups: Project Apis M and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees – Industry-supported groups: the National Honey Board and the California Almond Board – Corporate and private: Häagen Dazs, the O’Keeffe Foundation, Wyman's of Maine, Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods, Dutch Gold Honey, beekeeper groups and numerous private donors. • Local level – Together with PA Master Gardeners program develop info packets and Pollinator Garden Certification Program – Developed pollinator gardens at the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center and the Arboretum at Penn State – Native bee survey and ID guide for Pennsylvania • National level – advised the EPA on standards for pesticide applications – served as science advisors to the National Honey Bee Advisory Board – steering committees of the national CCD Task Force and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. – Testified before the United States Congress on CCD in honey bees • International level: – Numerous collaborations worldwide (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) – Recently funded NSF-BREAD grant • Gates and NSF joint program to aid agriculture in developing nations • One of 15 grants funded nationwide • Partnership with the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya • Characterize and mitigate the impact of Varroa introduction on honey bee populations *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm